2014 Mint 400 BITD Off-Road Race coming to Vegas

The largest and most prestigious off-road race event in America, The General Tire Mint 400, will return to the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas Nevada, from Wednesday, March 12th through Sunday March 16th. The Mint 400 will feature three days of pre-race festivities in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, followed by the most challenging and thrilling off-road race of the year. Over one thousand of the world’s top off-road championship competitors will do battle in twenty different classes of vehicles across the brutal and unforgiving Mint 400 racecourse in front of thousands of spectators and race fans. Crowds in excess of forty thousand are expected to attend the festivities on Fremont Street East as well as The Mint 400 race – which are free to attend.

The Mint 400 owners, The Martelli Brothers, have once again improved on the historic event by expanding the pre-race festivities, adding to the treacherous racecourse, and expanding the television and media coverage. The world famous Mint 400 Contingency, (already the largest in North America), has doubled in size and will include dozens of new off road vendors, food and drink specials from local Fremont Street businesses, as well as dedicated destination spots for off-road enthusiasts including; “Raptor Alley”, a “UTV Showcase”, vintage off-road cars on “Memory Lane”, rally cars on “Rally Road” and an off-road “Builders Showcase”. The spectating area dubbed “The Quarry” has also been expanded to accommodate more fans, offering an unparalleled birds eye view as the competitor’s battle through the ultra technical section of the racecourse.

“This year marks the 47th anniversary of the Mint,” commented Matt Martelli. “This is not just a race – this is a massive cultural happening that allows us the chance to showcase the most dynamic and exciting motorsport on Earth to tens of thousands of off-road enthusiasts. People come from all over the United States and beyond to race, party, and spectate with us here in Vegas – and we’re thrilled that we can share off-road racing with them by hosting the most historic and challenging race in professional off-road racing.”

The Mint 400 race festivities kick off Wednesday, March 12th at 12pm with “The Mint 400 Battlefield Barbeque”, a “lunch and guns” barbeque at the finest indoor shooting range in Las Vegas. Following the BBQ, the second annual “Mint 400 Vehicle Parade” will begin at 3:15pm, and feature hundreds of race vehicles in a massive procession down the world famous Las Vegas Strip. Wednesday night will feature the official “Mint 400 Kick Off Party” at Backstage Bar & Billiards in downtown Las Vegas on East Fremont St.

On Thursday, March 13th the festivities continue on historic Fremont St. East, with the “Mint 400 Driver Meet & Greet” at 4:30pm. Drivers will sign autographs, take photos, and allow fans to get up close and personal with their amazing race vehicles. Thousands will gather afterwards for the “General Tire Miss Mint Contest, presented by Metro Honda,” and watch the judges pick a new “Miss Mint 400” and award her with $5,000 cash, prizes, and a one-year lease of a brand new Metro Honda vehicle. Shortly after Miss Mint is crowned, sixteen of the top off-road pit crew teams in the world will battle head-to-head for cash, prizes, and bragging rights during the “KMC Wheels Pit Crew Challenge, presented by Currie Enterprises.” International recording artist Bob Wayne and his band of outlaw carnies will perform at the Fremont Country Club to round out the evening.

The world-famous Mint 400-vehicle procession; know as “contingency,” starts Friday March 14th at 9am. More than three hundred custom off-road race vehicles will be pushed slowly down Fremont Street, giving fans a chance to see, touch and take pictures with the incredible racecars and their drivers. There will be a ton of new off-road racing products and merchandise available for purchase from the industry’s best manufacturers. Official 2014 Mint 400 merchandise will be available on Fremont Street near the entrance to contingency, including a massive selection of new t-shirts, hats, stickers, patches, belt buckles, DVD’s and more.

The 2014 General Tire Mint 400, will take place Saturday March 15th in Jean, NV just South of Las Vegas. The racing will begin with the “Limited” vehicles at 6:00am and continue with the “Unlimited” race beginning at 1:00pm. The race for both classes will run late into the night and into the following morning. This year’s Mint 400 will feature the largest spectating areas of any off-road race – specifically designed to highlight the capabilities of the incredible off-road racing vehicles.

Come bring your friends and family to witness the high-speed bumper-to-bumper off-road action first hand. Spectating for The Mint 400 is completely free and open to the public. Parking is $10 per vehicle, cash only. Maps, directions, and guidelines on spectating will be available at www.themint400.com. The Mint 400 staff and BLM staff will be onsite to help guide the more than twenty thousand spectators expected to attend the race.

2014 marks the fifth year that Mad Media will return as the exclusive marketing group and television production team for The Mint 400. Mad Media was hand picked by General Tire to cover the 2010 Mint 400, and they have produced uninterrupted national television coverage – and accompanying DVD and digital programming via iTunes, for the past five years. Mad Media has expanded the reach of the historic Mint 400 race to a global audience – and they will be expanding their coverage in 2014. The Mint 400 will air on Sunday, July 6, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET on NBC as part of the Red Bull Signature Series, the most progressive action sports property in the world.